It’s bounce-back time for the No. 2 LSU baseball team.
Two nights after the Tigers’ (3-1) shocking upset loss to Nicholls State, their first mid-week loss since March 2014, LSU returns to the diamond to play Boston College in a three-game series spanning two days.
“We just need to get better,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “It was just our attitude in the batter’s box. We weren’t in an aggressive, attacking mode.”
Because of expected inclement weather, Sunday’s series finale was moved to 2 p.m. today, with Friday’s regularly scheduled series opener following at 7 p.m. The series will conclude on Saturday with a 3 p.m. start.
According to weather.com, Sunday’s forecast suggests severe thunderstorms throughout the Baton Rouge area with an 80 percent chance of heavy rain.
The first half of Friday’s double-header is open to ticket holders of Sunday’s game. The stadium will be cleared between games and fans with Friday’s original game ticket will be readmitted.
The schedule change forces the Tigers to move around its rotation and lineups more than expected because of the short rest.
In the wake of the Tigers’ shaky offensive production, Mainieri said he will shake up the lineup and move junior shortstop Alex Bregman to the three hole while putting senior first baseman Conner Hale down to the five spot amid other changes to be announced.
“Wherever he puts me, I’m going to hit,” Bregman said. “I’m going to try the best I can for the team. I like hitting third. I’m going to go in there and try to impact the baseball.”
The rotation will remain as expected, with sophomore southpaw Jared Poche’ taking the mound for game one of the double-header and freshman pitchers Alex Lange and Jake Godfrey to follow.
LSU’s biggest struggle through four games this season is its lack of execution all over the diamond.
The Tigers have committed the most errors of any Southeastern Conference team so far this season with nine and are dead last in the conference in fielding percentage at .943 percent.
“We’ve had four errors for two games in a row,” Mainieri said. “We just can’t do that. … We’ve always taken pride in our defense, and between second and third base, we’ve had five errors in four games. We just need to have consistent play there.”
LSU has also had its trangressions on offense. The Tigers are 11th in base percentage (.381), runs scored (22) and RBIs (21) in the SEC. Of the Tigers’ 51 total bases, they have left 36 men on base.
LSU’s inability to drive in runs became a main concern for the Tigers after stranding 17 runners in their Wednesday night loss.
“It’s hard to fathom leaving 17 men on base,” Mainieri said. “I don’t know what the record is, but that has got to be close to it.”
The Tigers’ inability to execute in the batter’s box and on the diamond comes as a surprise, given the depth and experience the team possesses in the lineup. But the Eagles (2-2) come to the Box with a 6.69 ERA on the season, giving LSU an opportunity to awaken its bats.
Bregman said he needs to drive in runs for the Tigers to be a contender, and he’s confident in his ability to do so moving forward.
“If LSU is going to win, Alex needs to be the guy,” Bregman said. “He’s going to be the guy.”
You can reach Jack Chascin on Twitter @Chascin_TDR.